5-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Miami

By Kathy

After we gathered our luggage, we found the shuttle to the LaQuinta Inn and Suites. The hotel was very nice with a huge swimming pool and hot tub. The kids enjoyed relaxing before bed.

The next morning we woke up early, ate breakfast and did some exploring around the hotel before our shuttle came to take us to Miami. Thomas and Kathy took a walk up to the main road and found a group of very aggressive birds. Lisa decided that it was too cold to walk so she went back to the room and snuggled under the warm covers.

By Kathy

I don't expect Lisa to remain in Michigan after college. She stepped outside and declared it was too cold to join Thomas and I on our walk. She is a Floridian at heart. They are all bundled up like it's 30 degrees.

It wouldn't be a Disney cruise embarkation morning without a disaster involving our matching shirts. Today's victim, my shirt splattered with Lisa's pink toothpaste. A little water and a hair dryer and hopefully a resolution is in sight.

Good morning from beautiful Fort Lauderdale.

Let's get this party started!!!

First autograph!

Finally onboard. Lunch was awesome. The view from our balcony is amazing. Now it's time to hit the pools, hot tub and waterslide.

The fun has begun!

Successfully destroyed his first of many soft serve ice cream cones.

Our home for the next 5 days.

Setting sail. Goodbye Miami. See you on Friday!

Sunset over Miami.

By Kathy

We met the representative from Caribbean Tours at Senor Frogs in Cozumel and drove to the airport for our chartered flight to Chichen Itza. The pilot escorted us to the aircraft, a small Cessna. The 45-minute flight was uneventful until it was time to land in Chichen Itza. The pilot circled the airport several times, making everyone onboard queasy. Finally, he landed and we were taken outside the airport to our waiting taxi.

By Kathy

After a 12 mile drive, we arrived at the ruins and met our guide, Manuel. Manuel took us all around the ruin site, explaining both cultural and historical facts about the Mayans. Our tour included the Temple of Kukulkan (referred to as El Castillo), the Great Ball Court (the largest and best preserved ball court in Mesoamerica) and the Cenote Sagrado, an impressive sinkhole 200 feet in diameter.

After two hours at the ruins, the kids were getting restless so we bid farewell to Manuel, stopped to buy a souvenir magnet for Lisa and went back to the airport to catch our flight. This was truly a once in a lifetime trip that everyone enjoyed.

After a long morning at the ruins, it was time to take the Cessna back to Cozumel. The kids enjoyed the flight and we got a great overhead shot of both the Disney Wonder and the Norwegian Dawn.

By Michael

The Disney Wonder called at Castaway Cay from 8:30 am to 4:45 pm. I watched the island come into view from the deck early, the pier and the water play structures visible before we ever docked.

Once ashore we found the sign that reads Castaway Cay, Bahamas at the pier, and Thomas and Lisa met Chip and Dale in their beach shirts. Past that we found a signpost at Pelican Point pointing the way to the floats, the shade, and Scuttle's Cove.

Most of the morning went to the water. Thomas and Lisa took turns on an inflatable float and climbed over the water play structure near the shore, while Kathy and I stayed close by the roped-off swim area. We came back to the ship for lunch at the Outlook Cafe, then went back out to the beach for the afternoon. Thomas and Lisa dug a sandcastle with a moat, filling it from the water with blue buckets and packing the walls by hand until someone from the beach staff came by with towels to dry them off.

Before we left the island a photographer caught the four of us together on the sand, the Wonder behind us.

Who turned off the heat????? Only crazy people wake up to see the boat dock at 4 a.m. Glad I'm wearing long pants and a long sleeved shirt.

Disney cruise teaser pics. We had a beautiful day in Cozumel/Chichen Itza, two windy but warm sea days and a very rainy afternoon at Castaway Cay. We did get a few hours of beach time in before the downpour arrived so all was not lost. A great vacation and now it's time to reset our Disney cruise countdown app. 360 days until we come back for another round of awesomeness.

She walked onto the ship 5 days ago as a Castaway Club Silver member and emerged this morning with her Gold credentials in full effect.

New countdown! Less than a year

Coolest picture from the cruise taken by the husband. We flew over our ship as we were taking off and landing in Cozumel.